Page 65 of Off Limits

I hum in response, because there’s not really much to say to that statement. And it feels like Mom is on a fishing expedition, and the easiest way to get it over with is to just let her get to whatever question she’s building up to.

“Do you see much of your brother?

Ah, so that’s what this is really about. She’s fishing for information on Cal.

“Has he not been calling this semester?”

“Oh, no, he does. Sometimes, anyway. And if he doesn’t, I call him.”

That has me wrinkling my brow, pausing before filling the last cup to look at my mom. “But you think I’ll have more info on him than he gives you himself?”

Mom lets out a soft chuckle and waves that question away. “No, no, I was just curious. He doesn’t ever mention you, so I was just wondering if he’s banished you from his presence or something.”

“Oh.” I scoop the mix into the last mug, then set the measuring spoon by the sink and close up the canister. “I mean, more or less. I see him around sometimes, and he always gets annoyed if I’m anywhere he is.” Rolling my eyes, I lean back against the counter and cross my arms. “It’s nothing new, though. He was like that in high school too.”

Pursing her lips, Mom mimics my stance. “True. I’d hoped he might’ve grown out of that by now.”

I shrug. “Guess not.”

“So I take it he doesn’t know about you and his friend then.”

My eyes practically bug out of my head as my tongue tries to jump down my throat. I cough and splutter. “I’m sorry, what? What are you talking about?”

Mom gives me a patented Mom look. You know, the kind that says,don’t try to pull that nonsense with me. The nonsense in question being my horrible attempt at playing dumb, of course.

“You know,” she says airily, “I thought it was strange that you wanted to come to the game today. And your excuse that Autumn wanted to go didn’t hold up to closer scrutiny when it was clear that the two of you were not at all interested in the game. Well, except when a certain player was on the field. You definitely perked up every time number forty-five jogged out. And the look you two exchanged?” She raises her eyebrows, clearly waiting for my response.

But since my tongue is still trying to get itself swallowed, I can’t muster any kind of answer.

“Well,” Mom tilts her head to the side. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I shake my head and cough. “I don’t, really. It’s not …”

I get anothercut the craplook. “Don’t try to tell me it’s not anything. I have eyes. I can see clearly that there’s something there on both sides. The fact that your brother hasn’t noticed is a testament to his obliviousness and nothing else. If you’re going to continue, and from the looks of it you are, you need to figure out how to tell him soon.”

The kettle starts whistling, saving me from discussing my not-so-secret relationship with my mother as she switches off the stove and starts pouring water into the mugs. I come along behind her to stir them.

“Did Dad figure it out too?” I ask quietly.

Mom shrugs. “Your brother comes by his obliviousness honestly, so I doubt it. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. You’re the one who needs to make that announcement. But just a word of advice—Simon seems like a sweet boy. I doubt he’ll be okay with sneaking around forever. If this is getting serious—and from the way he looks at you and the fact that you’re willing to suffer through a football game for him, I’d say it is—you need to tell Cal sooner rather than later. Or else this all might just blow up in your face.” And that’s that, because she turns and calls loudly enough for her voice to carry down the hall to the bedrooms, “Hot chocolate’s ready!”

Dad comes in first, with Autumn trailing behind him, and then Cal and Simon bring up the rear after we’ve all claimed our mugs. Mom offers marshmallows and snacks, “Or I can heat up some stew,” she offers. “I made a big batch for dinner last night and there’s plenty if anyone wants some.”

“I’d like some,” Simon says quietly, his rumbly voice filling me with a pleasant tingly feeling. I meet his eyes over my mug and smile. When he returns my smile, I quickly jerk my attention away, Mom’s words fresh in my mind.

Unfortunately, I meet her eyes next, and she gives me a knowing smile.

Autumn sidles up next to me. “Why is everyone giving each other secret smiles,” she whispers in my ear.

I widen my eyes at her, willing her to shut up. She smiles at me over her mug.

“What’s going on?” Cal asks loudly, because he and Dad are apparently the only ones oblivious to all the subtext flying around in the kitchen.

Simon buries his face in his mug and looks anywhere but at me. Mom and Autumn both look at me. Dad’s glancing at everyone in turn. “Ellie?” he asks. “Is there something you want to tell us? Did you declare a major?”

My mouth pops open when he asks if there’s anything I want to tell everyone, a denial at the ready, but then at the second most dreaded of questions, I deflate. “No.” The word is still appropriate. “Not yet.”

He gives me a stern look, and on the one hand I’m grateful because him getting all Dad-cranky about my lack of a major is the perfect distraction from the fact that Simon and I are together and everyone here knows that except for Cal and Dad. But on the other hand, I really hate this part.

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